Friday, January 22, 2010

Awesome Apple Cake

This is my favorite new recipe. It's from Marcus Samuelsson; if you've never heard of him, it's time you did. He's fabulous, and his cookbooks are tasty and lovely. I love his attitude towards American food; we are a land of more than just cheeseburgers and greasy pizza; we are the country that embraces all food ethnicity's and is willing to try it all. His recipes blend cultures the way the I-95 mix-master blends traffic. So, try this one out this weekend.

12 Servings (ha ha ha)

2 Tbsp plain bread crumbs
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
2 granny smith apples
1 tsp cinnamon
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter
1 egg
1 1/4 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
2/3 c half-and-half (I usually have whole milk in the fridge, and just use it)
2 tsp powdered sugar for garnish

Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a 9" springform pan (I use a bundt pan, and so usually omit the bread crumbs), and coat with the bread crumbs.
Toss together the white and brown sugar, and set aside.
Core the apples (leaving peels on), then slice one into 16 wedges. Toss the apple wedges with 1/3 c of the mixed sugars and 1 tsp cinnamon.
Roughly dice the other apple.
Mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 mins. Add the egg, mixing until combined. Reduce speed and add the flour and baking powder. Slowly add the half-and-half. Fold the diced apple into the batter (I usually add 1 tsp almond extract and 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp cloves to the batter as well). Pour batter into prepared pan. Arrange the coated apple wedges in a fan on top of the batter. Bake for 35-40 minutes until center is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Release from pan, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and delve in.

2 comments:

Em said...

yum. don't mind if i do.

Katie said...

I am glad you posted this one b/c I Loved this cake!! Also i can't believe you made that dress in almost one day... your amazing! I really wish we lived close to you guys so you could tutor me on all your very crafty skills!!